Matthew’s gospel, chapter 2:1-12 (NIV):
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
REFLECT
Men from a far away land in the East. Men who had been hoping all their lives. Men who had not given up searching, and had become old in the process. Wise men.
These wise men understood the patterns of the stars and they knew the prophecies of old – strong words foretelling the birth of a Saviour, spoken hundreds of years before. The passing of time had not weakened their search, disappointment had not diminished their conviction, age had not extinguished the flames of faith.
The cry from the heart of God echoes across time and down the years, a call and an invitation to all mankind ‘You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart’ (Jeremiah 29:13).
These wise men were expecting the Messiah – they probably did not know when or how or where, but they knew that one day, He would come. That night they saw an unusual light in the sky. That was all they needed – a nudge, a wink, a finger beckoning. I marvel at their response, at the desire burning within them to encounter the coming King, at their leaning in towards the greater light that had come into the world.
Will we seek to meet God today in the humdrum of our lives? Will we seek Him because we are expectantly waiting for Him? Are we ready for Him to show us something of Himself at any time, at any moment, in any way?
In choosing to believe in something bigger and greater and more glorious that anything they had yet experienced, the Magi had positioned themselves for an encounter with the King of Kings. In faith they had watched as the star rose high in the sky, in faith they had chosen prophetic gifts, in faith they had travelled over 1000 miles, in faith they knelt and worshipped a baby boy.
We have already met Jesus and yet in hoping for prayer to be answered, in the longing for situations to change, desperate for breakthrough, for many of us the waiting has dulled and wearied and blurred our faith. For some, the intentional searching ceased a long time ago, and we consider now that there is no hope – or is there?
The star that hung in that dark sky 2000 years ago still invites us to lean in towards Christ, in faith to follow the light. It is a sign still, for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear the small sweet whisper, ‘everything is possible for one who believes’ (Mark 11:23).
Dear Father,
Thank you for the example of the Magi. Thank you that they never gave up believing that you, Jesus, would come. One day.
Help me please, I ask. Help me, as I deliberately and intentionally choose today to turn away from hopelessness and despair.
Fan the flames of faith in my heart, I pray, to indeed believe that you have not forgotten me, that you know me and the longings of my heart and that ultimately you have good plans for my life even though it doesn’t necessarily feel like that right now.
I choose to rest in your promises and to hold on to the truth. Jesus, you are the truth and you are the answer to all my questions. I choose to heed your voice today above the clamour of competing cultural narratives.
I will wait patiently, and incline my ear to your whispers of love. Amen.
Want to experience more of the awe and wonder that God offers us? Check out the Gift of Wonder Online Retreat by Christine Sine. This retreat allows for 180 days of access for only $39.99 so you can move through the sessions at your own pace.
by Christine Sine
Over the last few days I have been listening to an inspiring series of meditations by Barbara Brown Taylor on the app Ritual. They are adapted from her book An Altar in the World which motivated me immensely several years ago when I was searching for a more embodied approach to prayer and spiritual practice. I have only listened to the first two mediations so far, but a lot of what was said really resonated with me. Here are a few of my thoughts.
- Disembodied virtues like generosity, love, compassion are rooted in physical practice. If these virtues remain a disembodied, feel good experience then they are not really virtues at all. Ii was good to reflect on the question “what virtues have you learned through physical activity? When I thought about this the words of 1 John 3:16-18 came to mind. I love the way it is expressed in The New Living Translation: “ We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister[a] in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. “Let us show the truth by our actions. ” It is my experience that when we move virtues from feeling to actions that the truth of God becomes more deeply rooted in our souls.
- Our imaginations are the key to reality. Have you ever thought of what a rock is really like? When we get down to its molecular structure it is more empty space than solid particles yet to us it looks solid. Can you imagine how it was birthed, what it has experienced over the millennia of its existence. was it reshaped by glacial action, flowing water, intense heat? It is awe inspiring to imagine the life of a rock.
- Slow time ends in spiritual practice. When we deliberately slow down and pay attention to what is around us, when we zoom in on a single face or flower we no longer see everything around us as scenery, a blur around us that we hardly notice. Slow time makes us aware that we are but a small part of God’s incredible creation.
- When we pay attention we cannot help but feel reverence. When we give something our full attention we realize that something or someone greater than ourselves created it. We recognize the sacredness of what or who it is and in the process we catch a glimpse of the sacredness of everything that surrounds us. This paying attention creates both reverence and awe and as Barbara Brown Taylor comments “in the process we create an altar in the world”
The meditation ended with an exercise that I adapted and used this morning. I thought you would all appreciate. You might like to have your journal with you to record what you experience.
Create An Altar in Front of You
Sit on the ground and look around.
Outline an area in front of you with a piece of chalk, a stick or your finger that encloses an area of about 3 square feet. That would be an oblong 3’x1′,a square of about 1.5’x1.5′ or a circle of approximately 2′ diameter.
Take a few deep breaths in and out to relax yourself.
Now give the area you marked out your full attention. What catches your eye? Is it a mark in the pavement. a rock, a flower.? Give that object your full attention. How do you think it came into being? What can you imagine of it’s life history?
Is there something in your space you want to pick up? Hold it in your hands and examine it closely. Feel its texture. Smell it. Are there memories that come to mind as you give it your full attention?
Now practice reverence and experience the awe of what you meditated on. Offer a prayer to God.
You have just created an altar in the world.
~ Goodfellow
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A contemplative service with music in the spirit of Taizé. Carrie Grace Littauer, prayer leader, with music by Kester Limner and Andy Myers.
Thank you for praying with us!
Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-710-756.
“Sto Oko Ne Vidje”
By the Taizé community, copyright 2010, all rights reserved by GIA/Les Presses de Taizé
“Christ Be With Me” (Prayer of St. Patrick)
Text from the Lorica, or the Prayer of St. Patrick
Song by Ruth Cunningham, used with permission. All rights reserved.
www.ruthcunningham.com
“By the Mark”
Written by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings
by Jeannie Kendall – originally posted here on January 17, 2017.
The wise men have always intrigued me. Of course the tradition is there – a named three kings bearing no resemblance to the quiet restraint of the Biblical account. There is an air of eastern mysticism that captivates us our imagination and the shiny colours of the children’s nativity costumes charm us.
I wonder if the reality, perhaps, was more prosaic. These were serious scholars, spending hours in quiet solitude, with a deep-rooted belief that the universe is profoundly connected with the fate of humanity and therefore events with a transforming effect on human history must be echoed in the cosmos, and specifically in the stars. Perhaps since Daniel had been given authority over the Persian scholars (Daniel 2), there had been a folklore passed down through their culture of the hope of a Jewish Messiah who would change history.
However erudite however, these were flesh and blood people: individuals with personal histories, families, thoughts and feelings. The journey was a risky one, wild animals and marauders a continual possibility. What if the culmination of their lives’ work turned out to be a fool’s errand? Where would that leave them: their life purpose running out like sand through their fingers? Were there moments of heart-jerking doubt in the middle of the night? Any moments of regret at missing a milestone in their children’s development?
As they knelt (extraordinary in itself that they would prostrate themselves before a child) what mix of feelings must have whirled around their battered and tired psyches? Perhaps amid the joy and relief there was a moment of “What now?” Where do we go when all we have looked towards has been fulfilled? I have so many questions…
Yet, yes, in the end these are the stories of people who, like us, make a journey into an unknown future. Here are my reflections on two of them:
The Magi
I still remember the day I first saw it.
Like nothing we had ever witnessed
For all our hours of study.
It was as if heaven had breached earth:
A dazzling display
Signalling something, surely, to change history.
We could not miss it.
Our wives: well, that was a different story.
Varying from incredulity at our fool’s errand
To outright anger at our desertion,
Hard as it was to explain
The yearning in our souls
That would not be assuaged
By continuing in our ease and security.
The journey was fraught:
One of our party nearly succumbing
To some mysterious ailment:
Reviving only with his desperation
To finish our quest.
Then the curious interlude:
Arriving at the palace
Thinking at last our mission complete:
Hoping our goal was in reach.
Eliciting information we needed,
Yet somehow a stench
More pungent than the camels,
Filling not our noses
But our souls.
The last miles
Seemed never-ending;
And, creeping like a fog
Not seen until obscuring vision,
My doubt sneaked in.
But then I saw Him,
And, in simple wonder,
I knelt
And felt the breath of heaven
On my cheek.
Wife of one of the Magi
I have no appetite
For politics or religion.
The first the refuge
Of the power hungry
The second for the desperate.
I married him
Because I loved him
The rest just came with it
Like an unwelcome guest
Who would not leave
And must be tolerated.
He never talked
About his work
Which suited me fine
I knew my place
The kitchen and bedroom
My domain
But not the altar.
And then he left
On some foolish quest
And my simmering resentment
Burst into energising flame
Planning with every day
Of absence
All that I would say
On his return.
A thousand conversations
In my head
In the waking hours
Of the night.
And then he came home.
And all of them
Were silenced.
Want to experience more of the awe and wonder that God offers us? Check out the Gift of Wonder Online Retreat by Christine Sine. This retreat allows for 180 days of access for only $39.99 so you can move through the sessions at your own pace.
At our Following the Star Retreat this past Saturday, I led a Prayer Mediation helping us to look back at our past year in order to help us move forward into the new year.
You will need these props to pray with and you can also journal from the questions….
- Something that is smooth
- A couple of rocks or a stones
- Something from your trash bin or recycling bin…an empty cup, can, carton etc
- Something that represents celebration to you… a bow, glitter, sparkler, party hat
THE EPIPHANY PATH.
FOLLOWING THE STAR….Looking back before you walk forward.
Consider your Journey in the Past year…
Consider the path you’ve been walking.
smooth places
What were the smooth spots ?(hold your smooth item as you pray and consider the peaceful places in your past year)
Take time to thank God for these spaces of grace and peace on your journey.
Rocky places
What were the Rocky Spots? (hold the stones/rocks in your hand as you pray and consider the rocky places)
Talk to God about them. Did you feel God’s presence or did God feel absent? Tell God your heart.
Trash on your path
What were the times when you felt like you were traveling through trash/garbage? There is always trash on our paths. (hold your item of garbage/trash as you pray)
Who Were the people who threw trash on your path? And it got in your way?
Take time to talk to God about this.
Allow God to help you forgive them.
Whose path did you throw trash on this year?
Allow God to forgive you for this.
What about yourself? How did you get in your own way and throw garbage on your own path with your words or deeds?
Ask God to help you forgive yourself.
Gifts and Celebrations of last year
Now hold your symbol of celebration in your hand. What were the gifts of this past year?
What were the celebrations that you can be thankful for?
The People, the Places, the Opportunities…..
Take some time and remember.
Take time to feel the joy and the pleasure of those gifts.
Take time to be grateful.
What about the New Year?
What about the year ahead? How does your path look?
What things do you need for your Journey in 2023? Take time to consider this.
What path are you walking today?
Where are you with your walk with Jesus?
Are you following His Star…willing to go where He goes?
Are you stuck in the Palace afraid to leave it?
Are you stuck in old habits afraid you’ll never get out?
Are you willing to leave your comfort zone as the Magi did and go on an Adventure?
Are you walking with Jesus by your side?
Have you even invited Jesus along …is He chasing you? Are you chasing Him? Have you left Him far behind.
Talk to Jesus about where you are today and where you want to go this year.
HOMEWORK: You can also take this prayer meditation outside and actually take a walk and consider your path from last year and the path of the year ahead. Use the trash you see, or the rocks, and the things of beauty to help you pray.
by Christine Sine
In my Tuesday newsletter I commented that this last week was really crowded with events and celebrations. One that I did not want to leave unnoticed, is the celebration of George Washington Carver. He is one of the few African Americans to have a day dedicated to his memory and he is a man we all need to celebrate. What he accomplished is awe inspiring.
George Washington Carver was born into slavery in 1864. His enslaver, Moses Carver, was a German American immigrant, who was obviously very dedicated to his slaves. When George was a week old, he, his sister, and his mother were kidnapped by night raiders from Arkansas and sold in Kentucky. Moses Carver hired John Bentley to find them, but he found only the infant George. After slavery was abolished, Moses Carver and his wife, Susan, raised George and his older brother, James, as their own children. They encouraged George to continue his intellectual pursuits, and “Aunt Susan” taught him the basics of reading and writing
George did continue his intellectual pursuits and became a prominent American agricultural scientist and prolific inventor who promoted alternative crops to cotton and methods to prevent soil depletion. He was one of the most prominent black scientists of the early 20th century and a man ahead of his time in many ways.
While a professor at Tuskegee Institute, Carver developed techniques to improve types of soils depleted by repeated plantings of cotton. He wanted poor farmers to grow other crops, such as peanuts and sweet potatoes, to provide their own food and improve their quality of life. The most popular of his 44 practical bulletins for farmers contained 105 food recipes using peanuts. Although he spent years developing and promoting numerous products made from peanuts, none became commercially successful. Contrary to popular belief he did not however invent peanut butter.
Apart from his work to improve the lives of farmers, Carver was also a leader in promoting environmentalism. He received numerous honors for his work, including the Spingarn Medal of the NAACP. In an era of high racial polarization, his fame reached beyond the black community. He was widely recognized and praised in the white community for his many achievements and talents. In 1941, Time magazine dubbed Carver a “Black Leonardo”.
Want to experience more of the awe and wonder that God offers us? Check out the Gift of Wonder Online Retreat by Christine Sine. This retreat allows for 180 days of access for only $39.99 so you can move through the sessions at your own pace.
As the year comes to a close and 2023 begins, we’d like to celebrate our brilliant and wonderful writers and their accomplishments during the past year! Thank you to all the people who contributed their thoughts and writings to the blog this past year, as well as the larger Godspace community who read and interacted with the blog.
What Happened on Godspacelight?
This has been a very good year for us. The daily posts on Godspace, contributed by 15 writers in 6 different countries, drew an average of over 1,000 visitors a day to the site, with the season from Advent to Easter averaging more than 1,500 visits per day. The fortnightly Facebook live sessions with Christine and Lilly Lewin were also very successful. Not only did we have a chance to discuss topics close to our own hearts like hospitality, Celtic Christianity and pilgrimage, but we also interviewed several fascinating practitioners – Tom Sine, Mark and Lisa Scandrette and Randy and Edith Woodley. Christine enjoyed these so much that she plans to start a podcast in the next few months. Prayers appreciated as she works out the best way to do this.
One of the fun projects for the year was the publication of our Godspacelight Community Cookbook. I loved the way that this brought out new contributors from the broader Godspacelight community. We also published Christine Sine’s new book Digging Deeper: The Art of Contemplative Gardening . We also expanded our Godspacelight Resource centre with easy links to both Godspace posts and resources on other sites. I know I find this valuable when I am looking for a post on a specific topic and think many of you do too. The hardest part of 2022 was the recurrent crashing of the website during Advent. Fortunately fixing this problem will not be as difficult or as expensive as we expected. We appreciate your prayers as we work to update and make Godspacelight an even better place for you to visit.
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